DOI: 10.5176/2251-3833_GHC19.142
Authors: Dr. M. Danet Lapiz-Bluhm
Abstract: Salivary analytes are increasingly used as biomarkers for stress and mental health. However, challenges and opportunities still remain, i.e., difficulty in collection and sample volume. This study aims to compare three collection methods in terms of reliability of the amount collected, participants' acceptability, and salivary analyte levels. Healthy adults (n = 31) collected saliva samples by passive drool, swab, and pool-swab methods. The participants were asked to determine their method of choice in terms of ease of collection, preference for their own use, and to recommend to others. Levels of cortisol and salivary α-amylase were also analyzed. The passive drool and pool-swab methods provided the most volume while the swab method the least. Pool-swab was consistently chosen as the method of choice for ease of collection, personal use and to recommend to others. Salivary cortisol levels were similar for all collection methods. Salivary α-amylase levels were higher among samples collected by the swab method, while they were similar in samples collected by passive drool and pool-swab methods. The pool-swab method appeared to provide greater volume collected and participants' acceptability, without influencing the accuracy of cortisol and amylase levels. The results have an impact on enhancing quality, reliability, and rigor for salivary biomarker research
Keywords: saliva collection method comparison; volume; acceptability; saliva cortisol; salivary α- amylase
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